Leaflets in This Series - Possibility MinistriesLeaflets in This Series 1. Special Needs Ministries...

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Transcript of Leaflets in This Series - Possibility MinistriesLeaflets in This Series 1. Special Needs Ministries...

Leaflets in This Series1. Special Needs Ministries2. Intellectual Disability3. Hearing Impairment4. Hidden Disability5. Mobility Disability

The church and the Gospel should be accessible to everyone. This series, Keys to Special Needs Ministries, prepares you to support people with special needs and foster inclusion in all aspects of church life. The goal of special needs ministries is to unite people, both disabled and non-disabled, in the common bond of Christ’s love.

This introductory booklet provides an overview of what a special needs ministry is and how you can train yourself and others to develop such a ministry in your church. By including all and excluding none, the church can break barriers that prevent people from coming to Jesus and joining His family.

6. Emotional and Psychiatric Disability7. Communication Disorder8. Blindness and Visual Impairment

Special Needs Ministries is created by the General Conference Sabbath School & Personal Ministries Department.

Author: Charlotte L. V. Thoms, Ed.D. Editors: Gary B. Swanson; Fran Chaffee Grossenbacher Design: AdventSource

Available from:

AdventSource 5120 Prescott Avenue Lincoln, NE 68506 402.486.8800 www.adventsource.org

Copyright © 2015 by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

All rights reserved. These materials may be copied for local church use. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise for sale or distribution in any way outside of the local church leadership without the prior written permission of the copyright holder.

Printed in the United States of America.

ISBN: 978-1-57756-157-6

Special NeedS MiNiStrieSCreating Inclusive Opportunities in Ministry1

Ministry is a privilege given by God for the modern-day Christian based on biblical principles, the life of Christ, and the love God shows to, for, and with all people. Ministering to, for, and with people with special needs is the extension of the love that Christ demonstrated while on earth. It allows Christians to replicate the Heavenly Father’s supreme sacrifice of service by giving His only begotten Son to an undeserving world.

For decades the Seventh-day Adventist Church has been trying to label a ministry for people with disabilities. Many believe the word disability has a negative connotation and avoid the use of the word. Others shun the term special needs because they think an impairment that substantially limits daily activities should not be considered special. Some who seek to describe the function of this ministry believe the words inclusion or inclusive would be more appropriate.

Three options have emerged from this discussion: Disabilities Ministries, Special Needs Ministries, or Inclusion Ministries.2 Ministries or ministry is the term common to all.

Regardless of the name, the service is the same. What is needed is a ministry that unites the talents and skills of disabled and non-disabled individuals in a common bond of service to humanity, the church, and the community.

The worldwide church is moving beyond the title to the task. How can the church effectively and efficiently establish a ministry that includes all and omits none—a ministry that truly models the life of Christ? All born into this world, once they accept Jesus Christ as personal Savior, have the right and the obligation to serve Him and humanity to the best of

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their abilities. The Seventh-day Adventist Church has made an intentional decision to train, challenge, and encourage each division, union, conference, and church in this ministry.

Before proceeding to the heart of why and how to establish a ministry for people with special needs, the issue of patronizing behavior must be considered. An attitude that views any fellow human being as less than equal as a member of God’s family may eventually lead to patronizing actions. People with disabilities are people first. The disability does not define who they are, nor does it limit the potential of God’s power to use them in His cause.

When an administrator is approached to appoint a Special Needs Coordinator, a common response may be, “We do not have any people with disabilities in our territory,” Or “Our personnel are already overburdened with two or three ministries.” Or “Our budget won’t accommodate another ministry.” Or “Yes, conceptually I understand the need, but really, who wants to be connected to a special needs ministry?”

Certain conditions may hamper efforts to embrace all men, women, and children into inclusive worship. People with special needs may not wish to self-identify as having a special need, or their family members may share the same reluctance to openly identify a special need. This resistance may be the result of personal issues, preference, and/or the cultural stigma related to disabilities. In addition, parishoners may not feel adequately prepared to participate in inclusion ministries, or may not be comfortable with children and adults with unique needs. Concern over the adequacy of church resources to meet identified needs may also be an issue. However, if the church can work around and eventually overcome these potential obstacles, it can create powerful ministries that address the needs of the one billion people in the world with a disability.

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A Ministry Is BornThe commission of Jesus Christ compels us to lead

others to accept Him as their personal Savior, to unite with His church, and to nurture all people in preparation for His soon return. Once evangelized and nurtured, the individual continues the growth cycle by telling, compelling, and winning others. This mission is at the heart of the church’s mission and is accomplished through all ministries, including preaching, teaching, and healing.

From its inception, the church articulated and practiced its mission by communicating the message of the gospel throughout the world. The term “global mission” is synonymous with reaching the peoples of the world, whatever the context of their lives. To accomplish this goal, Adventists are called to be promoters of human freedom and responsibility, especially emphasizing freedom of religion for all peoples—those with and without special needs.

Although the Seventh-day Adventist Church has always ministered to people with special needs, its most concrete contribution has been the establishment of Christian Record Services (CRS).3 In 1899 a legally blind young man named Austin Wilson established the Christian Record Braille Foundation. Wilson began producing a Braille magazine titled Christian Record. By 1911 its circulation grew to more than 2,000. Today, CRS has provided services to people with visual disabilities through eight periodicals, more than 1,400 talking books, large print and Braille Bible studies, a digital hymnal, blind camps, and representatives worldwide. In 1980 CRS began to provide services to persons with hearing disabilities.

At the 1995 General Conference Session in Utrecht, the Netherlands, a ministry for people with disabilities was voted and approved. According to the Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual, “this ministry functions under the personal ministries council and develops programs for members and others with disabilities. It should create witnessing programs, recommend how to make church facilities more accessible,

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help solve transportation problems, and recommend ways to involve members with disabilities. The coordinator of Ministry to People with Disabilities serves as a liaison with organizations providing services for people with disabilities, such as Christian Record Services, and promotes Christian Record Services programs.”4

The approval of this ministry has encouraged churches across the world to welcome, accommodate, and include all individuals, including those with special needs. And, in a sense, it was a response to a higher mandate: to love one another. As Jesus said, “‘A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another’” (John 13:34, 35).5

The MissionThe mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is to

proclaim to all people the everlasting gospel in the context of the Three Angels’ Messages of Revelation 14:6-12.

Special Needs Ministries, which coordinates its outreach under the Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Department, exists to teach and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to people with special needs. As the Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Department communicates the good news of Jesus Christ to men, women, and youth throughout the world, the Special Needs Ministries focuses on those with disabilities. Training and promotion materials are provided through AdventSource and the Adventist Book Center to support the mission of including people with special needs in all areas of church life.

A major goal of the ministry is to encourage church leaders worldwide to intentionally meet the needs of individuals with special needs and include them in all aspects of church life. Leaders are advised to develop programs for witnessing to people with special needs and to make facilities—and the gospel—accessible to all.

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The mission of Special Needs Ministries is to encourage the inclusion of all members in the church. Unfortunately, this goal has not been fully met for many individuals with disabilities. To educate the church about the ways that people with special needs can contribute to the mission of the church, a worldwide Special Needs Ministries Awareness Sabbath can be a useful event. This program can take place at camp meetings, leadership training events, or any gathering in which these four goals can be emphasized: accessibility, education, encouragement, and accommodation.

In planning events and activities for the Special Needs Awareness Sabbath, set a goal for the day. One day is not enough to cover all the issues related to special needs, but positive contributions of individuals with special needs can be highlighted for the church or community.

As much as possible, be sure to invite individuals with special needs to plan and participate in the Special Needs Ministries Awareness Sabbath activities. If individuals with disabilities are to become fully included in the church, the congregation must see those with disabilities involved in all areas of church life. Special Needs Ministries Awareness Sabbath gives the opportunity for people with disabilities to use their gifts for God and at the same time increase the congregation’s awareness of individuals with special needs, their talents, and their needs.

Rom. 12:3 states, “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” As Ellen G. White explained, “The only way to grow in grace is to be disinterestedly doing the very work which Christ has enjoined upon us—to engage, to the extent of our ability, in helping and blessing those who need the help we can give them.”6 This statement should guide both those serving in Special Needs Ministries and those being served. The Special

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Needs Ministries team encourages adults and children with disabilities to participate fully in the church and to grow in Christ; and, in turn, people with disabilities are able to help and be a blessing to others.

The mission of Special Needs Ministries is to bring all members into the work of Christ. To promote full inclusion of members with disabilities, it is important to focus on each person’s abilities, talents, and relationship with God. What can the church family do to encourage and support a member with a disability?

For an adult or child with a disability to be truly included in the church family, she or he needs access to the gospel message through the Bible, sermons, the worship service, Sabbath School programs and materials, Bible study guides, music, Pathfinders, education, and fellowship. Community-based activities such as Vacation Bible School, evangelistic meetings, and vegetarian cooking schools are a few other ways to provide meaningful support to those with special needs. Individuals with disabilities may not be aware of alternative resources that are available; therefore, a goal of Special Needs Ministries is to help people with disabilities access those resources and the support they require to feel fully included in the church.

The MinistrySpecial Needs Ministries promotes the importance

of specialized ministries to foster the spiritual wellbeing of persons with special needs.

The ministry:

● educates leaders, directing them to appropriate resources for ministering to persons who have a special need;

● fosters the inclusion of qualified persons with special needs in church committees, forums, volunteer service opportunities, and other ministries.

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● ensures the development of resources for reaching and accommodating individuals with special needs; and

● encourages the training and employment of individuals with special needs throughout the church.

Therefore, Special Needs Ministries blends the services of those with a disability with those who do not have a disability. They unite in a bond of ministry, each returning to God the talents and gifts He has bestowed.

As a community of believers who share the gospel with all, Christ is our example. Of Jesus’ 35 recorded miracles, 27 touched people with special needs. He healed the boy who was “unable to speak” (Mark 9:17, NRSV), a man who was paralyzed (Luke 5:18-26), and a deaf man (Mark 7:32-35). Jesus gives clear evidence that the worldwide church is to be involved in Special Needs Ministries.

In Steps to Christ, Ellen White wrote, “This was [Jesus’] work. He went about doing good and healing all. . . . There were whole villages where there was not a moan of sickness in any house, for He had passed through them and healed all their sick. His work gave evidence of His divine anointing.”7

One particularly powerful statement comes from White’s Testimonies for the Church: “I saw that it is in the providence of God that widows and orphans, the blind, the deaf, the lame, and persons afflicted in a variety of ways, have been placed in close Christian relationship to His church; it is to prove His people and develop their true character. Angels of God are watching to see how we treat these persons who need our sympathy, love, and disinterested benevolence. This is God’s test of our character. If we have the true religion of the Bible we shall feel that a debt of love, kindness, and interest is due to Christ in behalf of His brethren; and we can do no less than to show our gratitude for His immeasurable love to us while we were

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sinners unworthy of His grace, by having a deep interest and unselfish love for those who are our brethren and who are less fortunate than ourselves.”8

Describing His earthly mission, Jesus said, “‘The Spirit of the Lord . . . has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed’” (Luke 4:18).

Jesus Christ was untiring in His service to humanity’s needs. “Varied were the circumstances and needs of those who besought His aid, and none who came to Him went away unhelped,” wrote Ellen White. “From Him flowed a stream of healing power, and in body and mind and soul men were made whole.”9 Because He wanted to minister to every need of humanity, Jesus “took our infirmities, and bore our sicknesses” (Matt. 8:17). Because it was His mission to bring complete restoration, He came to remove the burden of disease. He came to give His children health, peace, and perfection of character.

Often Jesus would ask the person He had healed not to tell anyone. Confidentiality is extremely important in this ministry; no information about a person with a special need should be shared with anyone else without written permission.

It is important that each congregation develop an awareness of the range of disability needs their ministry must address. As successful strategies for inclusion are identified, it may be helpful to share those strategies as members move into other roles or divisions in the church. However, it is important that any information about individuals and their needs be considered highly confidential, and that personal information should not be shared without specific permission from the individuals and/or their families.

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What Is a Special Need?Generally, three criteria legally identify a person with a

special need:

● A special need is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Major life activities include breathing, communicating, hearing, learning, completing manual tasks, seeing, walking, or working.

● A person with a special need has a record of such impairment.

● A person with a special need is regarded as having an impairment that is limiting.

A person with a disability is usually regarded as having a physical or mental condition that limits his or her movements, senses, or activities. In a church setting, the determination of a special need is typically based upon self-reporting or the report of family members or caregivers. Most importantly, church members must avoid pre-determining the scope or range of disability in a person with physically obvious needs.

The dignity of people with special needs must be maintained. Most children and adults with special needs highly value independence, so “mothering” or patronizing them is more hurtful than helpful.

Ministry activities should focus on fostering as much independence as possible for all people with a disability. Special Needs Ministries is not a standalone ministry. Rather, it supports every other ministry because people with special needs should be involved in every ministry in the church. The church should view Special Needs Ministries as an artery that carries life-giving blood to the entire church body.

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Four Goals of Special Needs MinistriesThese goals are attainable, but how they are

addressed will be ever-changing. The abilities and needs of congregations are constantly evolving, resulting in a dynamic special needs ministry that is neither static or ever “finished.”

1. Accessibility. Special Needs Ministries assists church leaders in learning how to make all structures, buildings, and programs available to all. The goal is to provide an environment in which everyone feels welcome, regardless of her or his physical or mental condition.

First, architectural or physical barriers must be addressed and eliminated. Church facilities should be accessible to all. Physical elements to consider include accessible parking lots, ramps for wheelchair access, halls and bathrooms that allow for wheelchairs, and rooms for worshipers who require quiet spaces or privacy for medical care.

In addition, attitudinal barriers that may prevent a person with a special need from feeling welcome must be eliminated. Education, training, and modeling appropriate attitudes toward those who are disabled will help increase sensitivity throughout the congregation.

Finally, the gospel must also be accessible. Achieving this goal may necessitate the provision of large-print materials, sign-language interpreters, slide presentations for church and/or Sabbath School, and closed captioning video materials. For children, make Bible truths and Sabbath School lessons more understandable by presenting them in a modified format that meets the needs of all participants. Having accessible materials available not only enhances the worship experience, but also promotes the importance of specialized ministries within the church.

2. Education. The goal is to train people without special needs and those with special needs to work collaboratively in building God’s kingdom. Resources should

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be continually developed for and made available to church members. These resources will provide guidance for the inclusion of individuals with special needs throughout the church structure.

3. Encouragement. Special Needs Ministries promotes the importance of fostering the spiritual wellbeing of persons with special needs. The focus of this goal is to promote participation in all aspects of church life. Providing a safe, loving environment within all levels of the church for all people is the privilege of every Christian.

4. Accommodation. The goal is to help God’s family be inclusive in principle and practice. Transportation, service animals, and a buddy system are examples of ways to tangibly assist people with special needs. Worship accommodations may include the provision of appropriate seating, specialized Sabbath School materials (such as a Braille quarterly), hearing amplification/FM systems, and visual supports such as PowerPoint® presentations of the service. Additionally, events, forums, volunteer outings, and other church activities should be planned with accommodations in mind.

Attaining these four goals gives the church a wonderful opportunity for evangelism, discipleship, and inclusion. Ellen White gave this assurance: “The Lord has afflicted ones, dearly beloved in His sight, who bear the suffering of bodily infirmities. To them special care and grace is promised. Their trials will not be greater than they can endure.”10

Special Needs Ministries should educate the church about people with special needs, develop resources for supporters of this group, enhance the worship experience of those with special needs, and emphasize the intentional and meaningful inclusion of worshipers with special needs into the larger church body. Finally, although employment is not included as one of the primary goals of this ministry, leaders in this ministry can develop and maintain a database

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that includes job skills of members with special needs. By assisting with a tangible need such as employment, this service can be an invaluable resource to those greatly challenged with finding employment.

Seven Major Special Needs GroupsSpecial needs affect hundreds of millions of families in

developing countries. Around 15 percent of the total world’s population, or roughly one billion people, live with a disability.

Because of the enormity of the numbers, the church has categorized special needs into seven major groups. It is critical to recognize that individuals with disabilities are just that—individual. Although a person may “fit” under one of these categories, she or he must be viewed as a uniquely special individual. These categories are not intended to label or pigeonhole children and adults with special needs, but rather to assist Special Needs Ministry members in successfully including and accommodating all members.

Intellectual Disability: An intellectual disability is characterized by limitations in both intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior, which impacts many everyday social and practical skills. This type of disability can affect a person’s ability to comprehend what is seen or heard and infer information from social cues and body language.

Intellectual disabilities may include, but are not limited to, brain damage, traumatic brain injuries. In addition, many congenital syndromes may include a component of intellectual disability. Further education on this type of special need can be found in a separate booklet entitled Special Needs Ministries: Intellectual Disability,11 produced by the General Conference Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Department.

Deafness/Hearing Impairment: A hearing disability affects a person’s ability to hear sounds and, in some instances, discern speech. Hearing impairment may range

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from mild to profound hearing loss, and may occur from birth or be acquired later in life. When hearing loss occurs early in life, the ability to speak clearly may also be impacted. Further education on this type of special need can be found in a separate booklet entitled Special Needs Ministries: Hearing Impairment,12 produced by the General Conference Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Department.

Hidden Disability: A hidden disability is a condition that is not readily observed, although it may greatly impact one’s life. This term encompasses many conditions, including, but not limited to, arthritis, seizure disorder, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, sickle-cell disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, cystic fibrosis, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, Asperger’s syndrome, and learning disabilities. Further education on this type of special need can be found in a separate booklet entitled Special Needs Ministries: Hidden Disability,13 produced by the General Conference Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Department.

Mobility and Physical Disability: A mobility disability limits an individual’s capacity for the performance of the activities of daily living. The individual may need assistance in moving from one place to another by using a wheelchair, walker, or cane. Individuals of very short stature, with amputations, or cerebral palsy may have mobility issues. Elderly people may face mobility issues related to aging, such as severe arthritis or complications resulting from a stroke, for example. Further education on this type of special need can be found in a separate booklet entitled Special Needs Ministries: Mobility Disability,14 produced by the General Conference Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Department.

Emotional and Psychiatric Disability: An emotional or psychiatric disability is a mental disorder that may affect daily living. Often this disability involves a pattern of psychological or behavioral symptoms that causes an individual significant

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distress at times and negatively impacts their ability to function successfully in life. Emotional and psychiatric disabilities may include, but are not limited to, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, panic disorders, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and phobias. Further education on this type of special need can be found in a separate booklet entitled Special Needs Ministries: Emotional and Psychiatric Disability,15 produced by the General Conference Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Department.

Communication Disorder: A communication disorder affects a person’s ability to communicate efficiently and effectively. The individual may have challenges with speech (making the sounds of speech clearly), and/or language (using words or other communication systems to express their needs and wants, or successfully comprehending communication from others). Voice disorders, articulation errors, dysfluency (often referred to as stuttering), and challenges with processing and comprehending language are examples of communication disorders. Further education on this type of special need can be found in a separate booklet entitled Special Needs Ministries: Communication Disorder,16 produced by the General Conference Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Department.

Blindness/Visual Impairment: A visual disability affects a person’s ability to see. Visual disabilities include, but are not limited to, low vision, glaucoma, cataracts, and blindness. Further education on this type of special need can be found in a separate booklet entitled Special Needs Ministries: Visual Impairment,17 produced by the General Conference Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Department.

Suggestions for TrainingAn important role of the Special Needs Ministries

leader is to increase leaders’ and members’ awareness, understanding, and inclusion of people with special needs. Here are just a few suggestions for training:

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● Promote Special Needs Ministries through literature distributed within your territory, from the pulpit, in the bulletin, and on the church website.

● Model inclusiveness both to people with special needs and to those without special needs.

● Set up a lending library of helpful resources.

● Invite members with special needs to lead training sessions and share ways that the church can be more accessible and inclusive.

● Replace offensive, exclusive, or outdated language with sensitive and appropriate vocabulary.

● Celebrate diversity by hosting an annual Special Needs Awareness Sabbath.

● Invite specialists in the community (audiologists, physical therapists, special education teachers, trainers of service animals, etc.) to help your congregation learn how to effectively minister to those with special needs.

The degree of acknowledgement of a developmental issue or special need varies widely for individuals and their families. Past personal experiences, cultural norms, and the family’s overall adjustment to the special need may play a part. For example, in some cultures and groups, special needs are openly discussed, yet in others, open acceptance of the same needs is discouraged. Individuals assisting with the ministry can be taught to examine and understand their own beliefs about disabilities, as well as the beliefs of others, to increase insight and identify culturally-aware approaches.

As in many areas of church life, sensitivity to the culture(s) of others is critical. Offensive language, even when used unintentionally, can significantly hinder the goals of this ministry. When training individuals to work in Special Needs Ministries, be sure to avoid words that are not appropriate.

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Although some of these words may be found in the Bible and other spiritual writings, their usage has evolved and they now carry negative connotations. The following table shows examples of words to use and words to avoid.

Use this . . . Instead of this . . .Person with a disability or person with a special need Handicapped

Has a disability or special need

Afflicted, unfortunate, less fortunate

Person with an intellectual impairment Retarded

Hearing impaired or deaf Deaf mute, deaf and dumb, deafie

Person with a mental or emotional disability

Feeble-minded, nuts, crazy, fruitcake

Person who cannot speak Stupid, imbecile, mutePerson who had a stroke Stroke victimIn the hospital or at home Sick and shut inUses a wheelchair Wheelchair boundUnable to walk, or describe the condition

Crippled, withered, maimed, defective, lame

Wears glasses or contact lenses Blind as a bat, four eyes

Person with arthritis, person with a seizure disorder

Arthritic, epileptic, afflicted with, suffering from

How to Prepare for Training Others

Pray. An effective ministry begins and ends with prayer. Because the number of people in the world who need the gospel of Jesus Christ and the number of people with special

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needs are so great, prayer is an effective and efficient way of reaching these individuals. Ask for wisdom and the heart of Jesus to prepare workers for this ministry.

Act. As you pray, the voice of God will speak to you through His Holy Word. As you study the miracles of Jesus, the desire to emulate His behavior will be overwhelming. Remember, the preparation for a new child in the home does not begin when the baby is brought home, but long before its arrival. The same concept applies to this ministry; preparation must begin now. Proceed immediately and the need will surface.

Study. Many resources are available through the Bible, other print material, and the Internet. Information about special needs abounds, making it easy for you to begin creating a library for each of the seven major groups. Remember that knowledge is powerful and will provide strength with the discovery of each resource.18

The following scriptural passages may also prove inspirational as preparation is made to establish a Special Needs Ministry:

● Proverbs 11:14; 16:3; 24:3

● Matthew 18:20

● Luke 12:12

● 1 Thessalonians 5:17

● 2 Timothy 2:15

● Revelation 2:7

Plan. Decide on a master plan for educating workers. Solicit help from those who have already been involved in Special Needs Ministries. Become more observant to notice the range of needs in the congregation. As a plan evolves, remember that Special Needs Ministries supports all the

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ministries of the church. In the planning stage, be inclusive. Trust God to provide a faithful, caring, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable team to support the master plan.

In planning, carefully consider how to make activities and roles within church groups inclusive. Ensure that every worshiper is involved meaningfully, based on their skills, strengths, and abilities, not overlooked because of their challenges. For example, a person with limited communication and/or social interaction skills could distribute slips of paper with Bible verses to Sabbath School participants to read during lesson study.

Pray. Thank God for the successes in breaking down physical and attitudinal barriers. Talk with people who have special needs, their caregivers, and professionals in the field. Let people know that prayer is ascending to heaven on behalf of this ministry.

This ministry is a wonderful opportunity to reflect the character of Jesus Christ. The doors are open, and people are waiting to be welcomed into the house of God. Let them come: people with their guide dogs, people in wheelchairs, people with medication in their bags. Rejoice as they join the body of Christ and become fully involved in the church.

ConclusionMinistry is a privilege for those who comprise God’s

church. “No distinction on account of nationality, race, or caste, is recognized by God,” Ellen White wrote. “He is the Maker of all mankind. All . . . are of one family by creation, and all are one through redemption. Christ came to demolish every wall of partition, to throw open every compartment of the temple, that every soul may have free access to God.”19

Today the Seventh-day Adventist Church is ministering to all the children of God. Those with special needs are being recognized “as equal in the sight of God. The Saviour

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has a boundless love for every human being.”20 That love extends to those in Christ’s service who are called to leadership. Leaders are to “take care of the church” (1 Tim. 3:5) and to “shepherd the church of God” (Acts 20:28).

Those who embrace this ministry will pledge to conquer every barrier that prevents anyone from coming to Jesus to become part of His family. They will develop intentionally inclusive congregations, and they will not patronize or ignore the man, woman, boy, or girl who has a special need. All worshipers will celebrate and uplift each other as they follow Jesus’ call.

“I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works;

and that my soul knows very well” (Psalm 139:14).

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References

Bova, Joan, and Michael Harrell. “Including All, Excluding None.” Southern Tidings, July 2009.

Burks, Catherine. “Initiating Efforts at Your Church.” Columbia Union Visitor, Apr. 2009.

Commission for People With Disabilities. Disabilities Ministries Handbook. Lincoln, Neb.: AdventSource, 2002.

General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. “Personal Ministries: Ministry to People With Disabilities.” Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual. Hagerstown, Md.: Review and Herald, 2010.

Johnson, George. “Disabilities Ministries.” North American Division Resource Guide, p. 48. 2011.

Thoms, Charlotte L. V, ed. A Quick Start Guide: Disabilities Ministries. Lincoln, Neb.: AdventSource, 2010.

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Endnotes1 http://www.sabbathschoolpersonalministries.org/specialneeds2 For the purposes of this manual, the term Special Needs Ministries

or Disabilities Ministries will be used interchangeably.3 http://www.christianrecord.org/ 4 Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual, 2010, p. 98.5 Unless otherwise noted all scriptural references in this booklet are

from the New King James Version of the Bible.6 Steps to Christ, p. 80.7 Ibid., p. 11.8 Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, p. 511, emphasis supplied.9 The Ministry of Healing, p. 17.10 Manuscript Releases, vol. 3, p. 276.11 www.sabbathschoolpersonalministries.org/specialneedsleaflet-

intellectual12 www.sabbathschoolpersonalministries.org/specialneedsleaflet-

hearing13 www.sabbathschoolpersonalministries.org/specialneedsleaflet-

hidden14 www.sabbathschoolpersonalministries.org/specialneedsleaflet-

mobility15 www.sabbathschoolpersonalministries.org/specialneedsleaflet-

emotional16 www.sabbathschoolpersonalministries.org/specialneedsleaflet-

communication17 www.sabbathschoolpersonalministries.org/specialneedsleaflet-

visual18 http://www.sabbathschoolpersonalministries.org/specialneeds19 Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 386.20 Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7, p. 225.